Archive for the 'Vintage' Category

Dita Von Teese can basically do no wrong in my book. She is always immaculately put together, and she knows exactly what suits her and sticks with it. This lady has a look.

I love her here in a peach Jenny Packham dress and bronze accessories. Most people would never go with red lips, but she pulls it off with panache. She smartly went simple with the jewels, choosing a pair of yellow gold and diamond retro earrings that aren’t too flashy, but have a bit of personality. I am a huge fan of vintage button-style earrings, and they are totally back in style these days. See below for some of my favorites:

Just came across this interesting post on Apartment Therapy that talks a bit about the history of the travel trunk, particularly by Louis Vuitton. Although these heavy duty pieces of luggage were created for completely practical purposes, they are now often used strictly as home decor.

Would you use a vintage Louis Vuitton trunk as a coffee table? Here are a couple to ponder:

Drew Barrymore is one of my favorite celebs–I so admire her ability to be herself, at all times, even when her look or style may be unpopular. That’s why I love her ensemble at last night’s Nylon + Express August Denim Issue Party in West Hollywood–she chose a $25 vintage dress picked up at an Austin shop.

I’m a sucker for anything sequined, and the slightly slouchy shape is more sophisticated than a skintight mini. Want to check out some of our favorite vintage pieces right now? Here’s our three favorite shimmery accessories:

Love him or hate him, Kanye West definitely has strong opinions about style. He’s collaborated with Louis Vuitton on a shoe line, has an apartment full of modern art that has been featured in many magazines, and even loves to talk about his accessories on his Twitter account. His most recent post? The worn leather tote above, complete with a caption reading: “Vintage Hermes travel bags are tight yo!!!”

While everyone might not get the appeal of a bag with obvious years under its belt, there’s something about the aged patina of good leather that feels like luxury. Kanye’s bag, while rough around the edges, is still fully functional and has a lot more character than somethings straight out of the workshop. Plus, I love the initials on the front–doesn’t it make you wonder who used to own the bag and where it’s been?

Want to check out Portero’s pre-owned Hermes? Shop here, and know that every one of these pieces are made so well that you can pass them down to the next generation!

While exotics like python, lizard or crocodile might not be easy on the wallet, they are extremely durable and will last a lifetime if properly cared for. Basically, these materials need to stay nourished in order to prevent drying, cracking or splitting. Here are some general rules of thumb:

-Never use household chemicals or alcohol to clean leather skins

-Snakeskin should always be cleaned in the direction of the scales

-Mink oil can be used on matte finishes of alligator/crocodile, but you should avoid the stitching when applying

We’re pretty excited to bring you a pet project of ours–a dedicated Vintage category to shop all the time! We’ve always carried a selection of vintage bags, watches, jewelry and accessories, but this launch means we’ve upgraded to a better selection, even better prices and easier shopping.

You’ll see a ton of great pieces in the category now, but make sure you check back daily to see all of the new treasures that will be posted in the coming weeks. This will be an ever-evolving, always-growing group of vintage items with an emphasis on the rare, unique and hard-to-find.

We are more than excited to announce that our new Vintage category is launching soon! You might have noticed that we already have cool vintage pieces spread out on our site, but now you’ll have a dedicated place to find all of our ‘oldie but goodies’.

Looking for ’80s Chanel jewelry? Check. How about mid-century Patek Phillipe? Done. Diamond Art Deco jewels? Yes and Yes. Stay tuned to this space and Portero.com for more information.

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About the Blogger

Randi Molofsky is the author of "A Girl's Guide to Buying Diamonds" (Rockport, 2005), a non-fiction title that explores the ins and outs of diamond purchasing, and covers topics from the 4Cs to personal style. Molofsky's career began as the Fashion Editor for National Jeweler magazine, and she has been an in-demand freelance journalist specializing in jewelry and timepieces for publications including W and New York magazine for the last decade.